Lockdown Liberation celebrations allowed - but don't take the mickey!

Friday 08 May 2020

So long as you keep your distance and don't exchange food or drink with people outside your bubble, there are plenty of ways to mark Liberation Day while under lockdown, but the Head of Law Enforcement said Guernsey Police will stop any parties which are breaching the rules.

Ruari Hardy said he is aware that many people are planning to gather on their driveway or in their front garden to mark the occasion with their neighbours.

That is allowed under the social distancing guidelines within phase two of the lockdown, but everyone must keep at least two metres away from people not within their household. No food or drink can be shared between households and only those households which have chosen to 'bubble' can celebrate the occasion closely together. 

Above: Ruari Hardy speaking at the briefing earlier this week. He discusses Liberation parties at 51minutes in.

Speaking earlier this week, Mr Hardy said police intelligence suggested gatherings were planned and he said those are allowed. But, he said the guidelines must be adhered to.

"The rules around social distancing: the rules are about keeping your you and your bubble safe, and I'm aware of information that people are planning perhaps to come onto their driveway, their friends from opposite come onto their driveway. And providing you maintain a distance, providing you are not exchanging food and drinks, you stay within the confines of your bubble, and you do not go across the road and meet your neighbours, that is actually, that is not a breach of the regulations," he said.

"The problem is when people potentially start drinking, and behaviours change, that is the danger and what we've tried to get across is, we've given up so much and we've put such an effort in to get to where we are and see the positive results, we don't want Liberation to be the chink in that armour that takes us back into lockdown, or takes us back into you know delaying all the phases that we're talking about.

"So people have done really well about engaging, people understand what it's about now I think, it's about social distancing, not having contact, not allowing that virus to spread. So if you're 10, 15 metres apart from your neighbours across the road for an hour and you've exchanged a bit on Liberation Day, there's not a lot I can physically do under the law about that. But you mustn't take risks, you mustn't push the boundaries because that will just put us back."

Pictured: The States guidance offers advice on how the day can be marked within your bubbles.

Official guidance has been published by the States outlining what is and isn't allowed on Liberation Day this year.

While two bubbles can now mix as one, wider family and friendship groups can't. The full advice can be read HERE. 

Pictured top: Head of Bailiwick Law Enforcement Ruari Hardy.